Vet Tips of the Day published periodically, each relating to equine veterinary medicine. In addition, there are periodic DR C STORIES. These are engaging tales straight from the pages of Chrysann's life. Click on labels or links below left or type anything in the Google box here to search the Blog, my Links and the entire World Wide Web for topics that interest you!

Here we are again, moving
into a new year.I hope everyone is
healthy and ready to ride!

After this VERY warm, VERY
dry winter, both plants and animals may be subject to unusual disease patterns
this spring. Vaccination against vector borne diseases such as West Nile Virus
will be particularly important this year, and I strongly recommend a fecal exam
on every horse to identify those infected by overwintering parasites.

Consult the clinic schedule
in this flyer, and call to confirm your appointment today. I will see you then!

Building Healthy Partners,

Dr, Chrysann

Veterinary Networking & Referral

Last week a
veterinarian called me for consultation on a horse he had diagnosed with equine
metabolic syndrome. The veterinarian had some questions about the horse’s
latest laboratory values, and how to move forward with a treatment plan. I
offered my interpretation of the horse’s laboratory results and made some
suggestions regarding treatment . The veterinarian called me because I am a
diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, which means
that after receiving my veterinary degree I successfully completed a 3 year
clinical residency training program and a rigorous 8 hour examination process
and case report publication to ensure my advanced knowledge and experience
diagnosing and treating internal medicine
problems.

On the flip side, I called my friend Dr. Robert Hunt for advice on a yearling
with an atypical stifle lameness. Dr. Hunt is a diplomate of the American
College of Veterinary Surgeons and resident surgeon at Hagyard-Davidson Magee
in Lexington, Kentucky. Bob and I discussed the case as he examined the digital
xrays I had emailed him. He gave me his opinion on the radiographic changes and
some suggestions on treatment options.

This type of
congenial exchange of information goes on, often without your knowledge, as a
routine part of your animal’s veterinary care. The variety of problems presented to the ambulatory equine
clinician is enormous, and maintaining this network of colleagues is a critical
part of my service to you. After 27 years as a practicing veterinarian,
the majority of patients I see exhibit clinical signs with which I am familiar,
and diagnostic and treatment plans are frequently routine. However, when
an animal presents with a complex complaint outside of my expertise, I do not
hesitate to seek consultation. Sometimes the initial conversation with a
specialist leads to the referral of the patient for advanced diagnostic
evaluation.

Helping you decide when to refer a patient is an important part of my
job.You should never feel awkward asking
for a second opinion from a specialist - I am here to help you find the most
effective plan to return your horse to full health and athletic activity . Following referral for advanced diagnostics
and evaluation by a specialist, your horse will return to my care for ongoing
treatment and rehabilitation.By asking
me to make the initial contact leading to referral, you insure that any
diagnostic findings, as well as my clinical notes, will be part of the information
that will accompany your horse to their appointment.

There are 21 specialty colleges of veterinary medicine recognized by the
American Veterinary Medical Association! In the greater Reno area we have 2
board certified equine surgeons, 1 large animal internist (yours truly!), and a
board certified ophthalmologist who sees both large and small animal patients.
UC Davis is 3 hours away and offers specialists in most of the large animal
disciplines. To learn more about veterinary specialists, google AVMA
specialty organizations.

Adverse
Vaccination Reactions –

What you Should Know

Every spring I administer over a thousand vaccinations by deep
intramuscular injection. I field
approximately 5 calls (< 1.5% of horses vaccinated) with reports of adverse
vaccination reactions.In my 27 years of
veterinary practice, I have seen 3 true allergic/anaphylactic responses to intramuscular
vaccination, and one serious vaccination complication associated with
intranasal Strangles vaccine. Vaccination is a safe, effective way to protect
your horse against disease. However, you should be familiar with adverse vaccination
reactions, and how to respond.

By far the most common adverse reaction to vaccination is the simple sore neck. The
day after vaccination you may notice that your mare is unwilling to move her
head, and she exhibits pain and swelling at one of her vaccination sites. Occasionally
the discomfort will be so severe that a horse will not lower their head to eat
or drink, or will pull back if pressure is applied to a lead rope when they are
haltered.These inflammatory reactions typically resolve
within 48 - 72 hours with treatment including warm compresses, offering food
and water at a comfortable height, and administering non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory medication.

This "sore neck" reaction is NOT an allergic response to the
vaccine. True allergic responses occur immediately, or within minutes, of
vaccination. Rather, these are exaggerated inflammatory responses to the
ingredient in the vaccine that stimulates the horse's immune system. Called
an adjuvant, this ingredient amplifies your horse’s response to the vaccine’s
disease organism.The ideal adjuvant is
a potent stimulator of the immune system but does not cause severe local
soreness. Unfortunately, individual horses may respond unfavorably to the
adjuvant in specific vaccine brands or antigen/adjuvant combinations.

When a horse develops a sore neck after vaccination, it is important to notice
whether or not the horse is systemically ill. Specifically, is the horse
eating and drinking? Does he have a fever? Is the swelling at the vaccination
site severe and increasing? If your horse has an adverse vaccination reaction,
I recommend that you contact your veterinarian with this information in hand so
that an accurate decision can be made concerning the need for treatment.

Clostridial myositis is a rare, serious complication following
intramuscular injection. Clostridial bacteria exist normally in the environment
in a spore form. Even when a clean needle and syringe are used and an
injection is administered correctly, it is possible for the needle to carry
Clostridial spores deep into the muscle tissue.These bacteria then grow rapidly, releasing toxins into the horse’s
bloodstream. Clostridial infections at injection sites are rare, but can
be life threatening and require prompt and aggressive treatment.

Amanda & I look forward to seeing you in March!

Spring Vaccination Clinic Schedule

Spring exams
include tetanus/encephalitis, flu/rhino and West Nile vaccinations plus
deworming or fecal examination, an oral exam, and sheath cleaning.

To reserve an
appointment, call 775 969 3495 with:

Your Name, Phone # and Clinic Date

Number of Animals, and Services requested.

We will return
your call three days before your clinic with an estimated time of arrival
at your address.Please be sure horses
are caught and haltered 30 minutes beforehand!

About Me

Chrysann Collatos VMD, PhD, Dip ACVIM owns High Desert Veterinary Service, a solo ambulatory equine practice in northern Nevada. She earned her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1988,then completed an internship, residency and PhD post doctoral program at the University of Georgia. She is Board Certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. She was Assistant Professor of Large Animal Internal Medicine at the Atlantic Veterinary College until 1996 when she moved to Nevada where she continues to practice today. Visit her at HighDesertEquine.com